Seventh Avenue Presbyterian Church
Adult Education 2011 – 2012
September 18 & 25, 2011
Title: Responding to Suffering
Facilitator: The Rev. Dr. Christina Fernandez
Description: As people we recognize the inevitable and universal character of human suffering. As Christians we ask, what in our faith tradition guides our response to suffering, both our own suffering and that of others. These sessions will explore what we and our faith offer as we accompany each other in times of pain, loss, diminishment and even death. The hope is to deepen a compassion that notices and engages human suffering, whatever form it may take.
The Rev. Dr. Christina Fernandez is the Vice President for Mission Integration and Spiritual Care Services for Catholic Healthcare West, a healthcare system with facilities in Arizona, California and Nevada. She is responsible for leadership development, quality improvement and implementation of strategic goals and initiatives for mission, palliative care and spiritual care services in 41 hospitals. Christina has degrees from Stanford University, Stanford Law School and Sophia Divinity School. A married mother of four adult daughters, an ordained priest, board certified chaplain and licensed attorney, Christina has worked in health care for the past 17 years.
October 9, 16, 23 & 30, 2011
Title: A Look at Some Saints
Facilitators: Tim Cahn, Joan Currey, Susan Shay and Jeffrey Gaines
Description: Over the centuries there has always been a fascination with the Saints: their lives, their history, their spirituality and their prayer. During this four-week class, we will look at the lives, faith and theology of St. Denis, Søren Kierkegaard, Thomas Merton and St.Teresa of Lisieux (the Little Flower).
Tim Cahn, who will present on Søren Kierkegaard on October 9 is an attorney, an active member of our SAPC community where he currently serves on the Session and the Board of Directors of Park Sunset Apartments as well as the Board of Covenant Network of Presbyterians.
Joan Currey who will present on St. Denis on October 16 has a BA in Psychology from Occidental College in Los Angeles, a Masters in Christian Education from Bethel Seminary, a Masters in Transpersonal Psychology from the University for Humanistic Studies, Certification as a Christian Educator with the PC(USA), and a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary. For years she worked in a Presbyterian Church near San Diego as the Director of Christian Education for Adults before moving to San Francisco. She is Director of Companions on the Inner Way Retreats which became a part of the SAPC family of ministries in 2004. As an avid reader and her interests are in things mystical and esoteric which has led her to the Middle Ages which in turn has resulted in the development and then leading a 15 day pilgrimage to France once or twice a year to visit certain Gothic Cathedrals and Abbeys to learn about their architecture, symbolism, sacred geometry, etc.
Susan Shay who will present on Thomas Merton on October 23 is active at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena and ended a 25-year career as a consultant in the high tech industry and return to school. In 2010, she received a Diploma in The Art of Spiritual Direction (DASD) from the San Francisco Theological Seminary (where she met Pastor Gaines) and has recently completed the requirements for an MA in Theological Studies where her focus has been on Christian Spirituality. Her earlier academic background was in history: she received her bachelor’s degree from Bristol University and pursued post graduate studies at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. Her subsequent career in Europe was as a journalist.
The Rev. Jeffrey Gaines who will present on St. Thérèse of Lisieux (“The Little Flower”) on October 30 is Pastor of Seventh Avenue Church and has served this community since December 1991. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA in 1975. From 1979-1991 Jeff served First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. From 1995 – 2003 he was also Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International.
November 13, 20 & 27, 2011
Title: Theology of Joy – Insights from a Franciscan Perspective
Facilitator: Dale Francis Trunk
Description: During these three weeks we will look at Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of Creatures” — A death-bed song of Joy — where he claimed his humility as an element of Mother Earth. This will lead us to reflect on the Spiritual Journey as an orientation to Joy. Finally, we’ll ponder insights from Erich Fromm’s “To Have or To Be” as a lens into Franciscan freedom for Joy for us today.
Dale Francis Trunk knew, at the age of 5,many of the most important aspects of his person: he was gay, he was fascinated by Nature (especially plant life),and he was drawn to the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. After high school, he joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order. The graciousness of God, the goodness of Creation, and the dignity of being Human are the identifying attitudes of Franciscan spirituality. With the Franciscans, his love of Nature found deeper connection and a theological expression. In 1998, after 25 years of living in community and serving in ministry, he was burned out and left the order and ministry. Currently, Dale is a Flight Attendant with United Airlines, a spiritual director and a gardener.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Advent Retreat — Mercy Center, Burlingame
Title: Advent — Seeing the Signs
Facilitators: Pastors Jeff Gaines & Ellen Rankin
Description: As the Worship Team read through the lectionary texts, we were struck by references to signs: There are signs of the times: darkness and shadows, knowing and not knowing, the need for attentiveness. John the Baptist is a sign in himself, pointing towards what is to come. Mary’s perplexity resolves into acceptance (Here I am) and moves to militancy, as she sings of God upending the economy of justice. We noticed, too, the communal nature of signs. An individual may not recognize a sign until it is pointed out by another. John speaks urgently to anyone who would listen about preparing the way for the one to come. Even Mary, whose sign may seem at first glance specific to her – it’s her pregnancy – goes to Elizabeth to share her experience. In the process she moves from the personal – recognizing her own blessedness – to the communal, expressing God’s ongoing relationship with Israel as a legacy of loyalty. We look together in order to see the signs that surround us. Because we see and recognize individual signs, we are able to see the one sign who is Christ, inviting us to life. During this retreat we’ll explore and uncover signs of Emmanuel’s Presence in our lives and world.
The Rev. Jeffrey Gaines is Pastor of Seventh Avenue Church and has served this community since December 1991. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA in 1975. From 1979-1991 Jeff served First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. From 1995 – 2003 he was also Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International.
The Rev. Ellen Rankin is a graduate of both the Master of Divinity and the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction programs at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Ellen is Senior Parish Associate here at Seventh Avenue providing leadership to our Women’s Spirituality Group and the Deacons along with providing pastoral care and liturgical leadership.
— 2012 —
January 8, 15, & 22, 2012
Title: Metaphors for Awakening the Inner life
Facilitator: Tom Glen
Description: Relying on Scripture, Matthew Fox and Hildegaard of Bingen — along with other resources — we will explore, together, historic metaphors and archetypes that have graced our tradition for hundreds of years — and that awaken our desire for the sacred and for growth in the spiritual life.
The Rev. Tom Glenn is an ‘honorary’ parish associate here at SAPC, from teaching adult education classes to preaching to facilitating staff visioning days as well as serving on the Companions on the Inner Way Retreats Advisory Board. Tom also leads pilgrimages to France along with Jeff Gaines and Joan Currey, and is a staff member with Jeff and Joan at San Francisco Theological Seminary’s DASD program. When he not in the Bay Area (i.e. in his ‘real’ life!) he is Parish Associate for Congregational Ministries at Shandon Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC where he is also active in their drama group.
January 29, 2012 We’re working on lining up something fun for this day … stay tuned.
February 12, 2012 Several ideas are being tossed about — check back later and find out more.
February 19, 2012 Seventh Avenue’s Annual Meeting with Salad Pot-Luck Luncheon.
— Lent —
February 26, March 4, 11, 18 & 25 [with a possibility of April 8]
Title: Lord, Teach Us — The Lord’s Prayer and the Christian Life
Facilitator: Dr. Mark Hamner
Description: In the Order of Worship throughout the Christian Church, the Priest or Minister sometimes introduces the Lord’s Prayer with the words, “Now as our Saviour Christ (hath) taught us, we are bold to say…” The word bold is worth thinking about. We do well not to pray the prayer lightly. It takes guts to pray it at all. We can pray it in the unthinking and perfunctory way we usually do only by disregarding what we are saying.
“Thy will be done” is what we are saying. That is the climax of the first half of the prayer. We are asking God to be God. We are asking God, not to do what we want, but what God intends. We are asking God to make manifest the holiness that is now mostly hidden, to set free in all its terrible splendor the devastating power that is now mostly under restraint. “Thy kingdom come…on earth” is what we are saying. And what would happen if that suddenly transpired? What would stand and what would fall? Who would be welcomed and who would be thrown the Hell out?
Many other questions will be asked in this Lenten Study focusing on the ten statements of the Lord’s Prayer. And I haven’t even mentioned the “Give us, Forgive us, and Don’t test us” parts….
Persons who want to have a better understanding of their faith will benefit from this study, as will those who say this prayer regularly and by heart, but have never reflected closely on what it means to be a part of a community that regularly prays for a radical and unconditional re-ordering of life as we know it.
Dr. Mark Hamner graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland Oregon with a degree in Psychology and Religious Studies. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Hamner has served churches in Oklahoma, Southern California and Illinois.
— Easter —
April 15, 22, & 29, 2012
Title: Hungering and Thirsting, in an African Context
Facilitator: The Rev. Joan Huff
Description: This course will look at life in two African countries, South Africa and Zimbabwe, which Joan visited in March 2010. South Africa is called the economic powerhouse of the continent; Zimbabwe has become the basket case, after once being called the Breadbasket of the continent. There is hunger and there is thirst in both countries. We will consider the reasons for hunger and for thirst in our world today as we seek to walk in the shoes of the poor and dispossessed and thereby to understand God’s world at a deeper level. One way we deepen our commitment to “be the Christ in the world” is to engage with others of God’s children whose experience in the world is different from our own. In this 3-session class we will seek a glimpse of life as it is lived in a different context. We will ask the question: What would Easter Resurrection hope mean here and now in Africa?
The Rev. Joan Huff is an ordained Presbyterian minister who has served pastorates in Oregon, California, Ohio, and Indiana. She has been a campus minister at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, as well as a social worker, Director of Family Development for West Side Ecumenical Ministry, also in Cleveland. In that position she worked with individual mothers who wanted to leave welfare for school or training and eventual employment. Most recently she has served as interim pastor for two congregations in San Francisco Presbytery: Noe Valley Ministry in San Francisco and Northminster in El Cerrito. Currently, Joan is a Parish Associate here at Seventh Avenue, a spiritual director and an Honorably Retired member of the Presbytery of San Francisco.
May 13, 20, & 27, 2012
Title: Mark — The Source Gospel
Facilitators: Pastors: Jeffrey Gaines & Ellen Rankin
Description: This study will be a brief overview of the Gospel of St. Mark.
Most Bible scholars see Mark, the shortest of the four canonical gospels, as the oldest, and a primary source for much of the material in Luke and Matthew. For a long time Christians tended to ignore Mark in favor of the longer, more detailed gospel texts of Matthew and Luke. After Mark was identified as the oldest and perhaps most historically accurate of the Bible’s gospels, this text has gained in popularity. During our time together we’ll lift back the veil of Mark and try to get under these words to discover their core meanings.
The Rev. Jeffrey Gaines is Pastor of Seventh Avenue Church and has served this community since December 1991. He received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ in 1979 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA in 1975. From 1979-1991 Jeff served First Presbyterian Church of Monterey. From 1995 – 2003 he was also Executive Director of Spiritual Directors International.
The Rev. Ellen Rankin is a graduate of both the Master of Divinity and the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction programs at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Ellen is Senior Parish Associate here at Seventh Avenue providing leadership to our Women’s Spirituality Group and the Deacons along with providing pastoral care and liturgical leadership.